Fibula

Contents

Introduction

The fibula is one of two long bones in the lower leg. A long bone is defined as one whose body is longer than it is wide, with growth plates (epiphysis) at either end, having a hard outer surface of compact bone and a spongy inner surface known as cencellous bone containing bone marrow. Both ends of the bone are covered in hyaline cartilage to help protect the bone and aid in shock absorption. The fibula is much more slender than the tibia and is not directly involved in weight transmission. It has a proximal head, a narrow neck, a long shaft and a distal lateral malleolus.

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Anatomy and function of the fibula.

Articulations & Ligaments

The fibula and tibia are the two long bones of the lower leg and run parallel to each other. They are similar in length but the fibula is much thinner than the tibia. This is suggestive of the weight bearing contributions of each bone. For example the thicker tibia has much greater role in weight bearing than the fibula.

Fibula - ventral view

The tibia and fibula articulate through two joints - the superior and inferior tibiofibular joints. The superior tibiofibular joint is a synovial plane joint with the transverse joint line spanning the lateral tibial condyle and the medial fibular head. The capsule is thickened anteriorly and posteriorly and joins with the anterior ligament, relating closely to the tendon of biceps femoris. The inferior tibiofibular joint is a syndesmosis joint, just above the ankle region which lies between the medial distal end of the fibula and the concave fibular notch region of the tibia.

Tibiofibular joint - ventral view

The distal end of the joint has a 4 mm separation from the prolongation of the ankle joint. There is no fibrous capsule surrounding this joint but there is a flat band of ligament named the anterior tibiofibular ligament which descends laterally between the two leg bones.

Anterior tibiofibular ligament - lateral-left view

The tibia and fibula also articulate via an interosseous membrane known as the middle tibiofibular ligament. This ligament extends through the fibula’s and tibia's interosseous crests and separates the muscles in the back of the leg from the muscles located in the front of the leg. It is made of an aponeurotic lamina, which is thin and made of oblique fibres.

Interosseous membrane of the leg - ventral view

Bony Landmarks

Head of Fibula

The head of the fibula is irregular in shape and directed upward, forward, and medialward. A round facet on its proximomedial aspect articulates with the corresponding facet on the inferolateral surface of the lateral tibial condyle. The inclination of this facet can vary among individuals from almost horizontal to an angle of 45 degrees.

Head of the fibula - ventral view

The styloid process is a palpable bony prominence located about 2 cm distal to the knee joint. The fibular collateral ligament attaches just in front of this and the tibiofibular capsular ligament attaches to the margins of the articular facet. A nerve (the common fibular nerve) passes over the head of the fibula and can be rolled against the bony fibula; this can be sensitive on palpation.

Fibular collateral ligament - ventral view

Shaft of Fibula

The shaft of the fibula has four borders and four surfaces each corresponding to a particular group of muscles.

The antero-lateral border begins above in front of the head, runs vertically downward to a little below the middle of the bone, and then curving somewhat lateralward, bifurcates so as to embrace a triangular subcutaneous surface immediately above the lateral malleolus. This border gives attachment to an intermuscular septum, which separates the extensor muscles on the anterior surface of the leg from the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis on the lateral surface.

Anterior border of the fibula - ventral view

The antero-medial border, or interosseous crest, is situated close to the medial side of the preceding, and runs nearly parallel with it in the upper third of its extent, but diverges from it in the lower two-thirds. It begins above just beneath the head of the bone (sometimes it is quite indistinct for about 2.5 cm. below the head), and ends at the apex of a rough triangular surface immediately above the articular facet of the lateral malleolus. It serves for the attachment of the interosseous membrane, which separates the extensor muscles in front from the flexor muscles behind.

The postero-lateral border is prominent; it begins above at the apex, and ends below in the posterior border of the lateral malleolus. It is directed lateralward above, backward in the middle of its course, backward, and a little medialward below, and gives attachment to an aponeurosis which separates the peronei on the lateral surface from the flexor muscles on the posterior surface.

Lateral surface of the fibula - ventral view

The postero-medial border, sometimes called the oblique line, begins above at the medial side of the head, and ends by becoming continuous with the interosseous crest at the lower fourth of the bone. It is well-marked and prominent at the upper and middle parts of the bone. It gives attachment to an aponeurosis which separates the tibialis posterior from the soleus and flexor hallucis longus.

The anterior surface is the interval between the antero-lateral and antero-medial borders. It is extremely narrow and flat in the upper third of its extent; broader and grooved longitudinally in its lower third; it serves for the origin of three muscles:

The posterior surface is the space included between the postero-lateral and the postero-medial borders; it is continuous below with the triangular area above the articular surface of the lateral malleolus; it is directed backward above, backward and medialward at its middle, directly medialward below. Its upper third is rough, for the origin of the soleus; its lower part presents a triangular surface, connected to the tibia by a strong interosseous ligament; the intervening part of the surface is covered by the fibers of origin of the flexor hallucis longus. Near the middle of this surface is the nutrient foramen, which is directed downward.

Posterior surface of fibula - dorsal view

The medial surface is the interval included between the antero-medial and the postero-medial borders. It is grooved for the origin of the tibialis posterior.

Medial surface of the fibula - ventral view

The lateral surface is the space between the antero-lateral and postero-lateral borders. It is broad, and often deeply grooved; it is directed lateralward in the upper two-thirds of its course, backward in the lower third, where it is continuous with the posterior border of the lateral malleolus. This surface gives origin to the peronei longus and brevis.

Lateral surface of the fibula - ventral view

Muscle Attachments

In front of the styloid process, the biceps femoris embraces the fibular collateral ligament. Extensor digitorum longus is attached to the head anteriorly, while fibularis longus attaches anterolaterally and soleus posteriorly. Extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus and fibularis tertius are attached to the extensor surface.

Extensor digitorum longus muscle - ventral view

Muscle attachments to the posterior surface are complex. Between the crest and interosseous border is a concave posterior surface to which is attached the tibialis posterior. An intramuscular tendon may ridge the bone obliquely. Soleus attaches between the crest and posterior border on the proximal fourth of the posterior surface, its tendinous arch is attached to the surface proximally. Flexor hallucis longus attaches distally to soleus on the posterior surface, almost reaching the distal end of the shaft.

Flexor hallucis longus muscle - dorsal view

Fractures

Fractures of the long bones of the lower leg are fairly common but fibula shaft fractures usually occur in combination with a tibial fracture or in isolation as the result of a direct blow or from twisting actions. The fibula is less commonly fractured as it is not the main weight bearing bone in the lower leg. As the tibia transmits most of the weight then it is more commonly fractured.

Proximal fibular injuries may cause damage to the common peroneal nerve, causing weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and reduced sensation in the lateral aspect of the forefoot. Stress fractures of the fibula are relatively common, typically affecting the fibular neck of military recruits and athletes following vigorous training. A Maisonneuve fracture occurs when transmitted forces fracture the proximal fibula following an ankle injury. This usually involves fracture of the medial malleolus, of the proximal fibula or fibular shaft and damage to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Rickets is a disease of the growing long bones of the leg that affects children and adolescents. It is caused by the failure of osteoid to calcify in a growing person. Vitamin D-deficiency rickets occurs when the metabolites of vitamin D are deficient. Less commonly, a dietary deficiency of calcium or phosphorus may also cause this disease.

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